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Over 1,000 students in four medical and dental colleges affiliated to the Gujarat University have decided to move the court against the university’s decision to hold its own entrance tests for admission to over 125 seats of post-graduate degree and diploma courses on April 28.

The students decision comes after the university authorities on Thursday clearly told them that there was no other alternative than to conduct its own entrance test because of the delay in the Supreme Court verdict on petitions challenging National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) conducted by the Medical Council of India ( MCI).

NEET, which is a common entrance test for admissions to post-graduate degree and diploma courses in medical and dental institutes across the country, was conducted between November and December 2012. Over 1,000 students from medical colleges affiliated to GU were among over one lakh students reported to have appeared for the NEET.

Under NEET, 50 per cent PG seats are reserved for the students of the state where the colleges are located and the rest of the seats are under national quota. The new system was introduced to improve the standard of PG medical and dental education in the country.

However, some private college managements in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and some of the southern states challenged MCI’s decision in the Supreme Court. The apex court ordered MCI not to declare NEET results till final decision.

According to GU authorities, the apex court’s verdict was expected by the end of January 2013. But, there is no judgment in the case so far and the matter is still pending.

Pro vice-chancellor Dr Mukul Shah, when questioned over students opposing the university announcing to conduct PG admission tests, said the varsity had decided in favour of the students.

Shah explained that the last date for admission in PG courses was June 30 in all the medical colleges across the country and if SC’s verdict did not come at least two month’s prior to the last date, it would not be possible to complete PG admissions and there were chances of the university having zero academic session for PG classes in 2013-14.

This, he said, would jeopardise the career of students and the government hospitals associated with the medical colleges would also not get resident doctors, thus hitting the health services.

“That is why we have decided to conduct our own entrance tests,” said Dr Shah, adding, the apex court had not restrained from conducting entrance tests,